Places To Visit

Kufri Shimla

Kufri is a tiny hill station in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh state in India. It is located 13 km from the state capital Shimla on the National Highway No.22.

Attractions

Mahasu Peak

One can hike through thick forest around Kufri to the Mahasu Peak- the highest peak in Kufri.

Indira Tourist Park

The Indira Tourist Park is near the Himalayan Nature Park and provides panoramic view of the locations around.

Chini Bunglow

It is the Kufri bungalow which is very famous for its statues and architecture.

Chail

Chail is a hill station in Himachal Pradesh, India. It once served as the summer capital of his Highness Maharaja Adhiraj Bhupinder Singh of Patiala .

Attractions

Chail Sanctuary

(3 km) – The sanctuary was notified on 21 March 1976 near the town in district Shimla and covers an area of about 10,854.36 The Chail sanctuary has ‘ghoral’, ‘kakkar’, ‘sambhar’, ‘red jungle fowl’ and ‘khalij’ and ‘cheer’ pheasants. Machan like sighting posts have been built at Khuruin.

Cricket

Ground- Surrounded by thick forests of deodar, a well maintained Chail Cricket ground is the highest cricket ground in the world. It was built in 1893. This ground located at an altitude of 2,444 m. It is used as the school playground by Chail Military School. During school vacations it is also used as polo ground. There is a well maintained Basket Ball court and the same cricket ground is used for playing football as the ground also has goal posts.In one corner of the ground there is a historic tree on which the Military School has constructed a beautiful tree house.

Chail Military School

Situated in ancient buildings made by Maharaja of Patiala.

Sankat Mochan

” Shri Sankat Mochan” temple is situated at a distance of about 5 K.m from Shimla and is located at Taradevi on the Kalka- Shimla National Highway. This temple is very easily approachable and is one of the most sought after site to be visited not only by the devotees and pilgrims but also by the tourists of all age groups visiting Shimla, the Hill capital of Himachal Pradesh.

The history of the temple dates back to the late 1950’s, when Baba Neeb Karori Ji Maharaj visited this tranquil and serene site surrounded by lush green forests , emerald meadows, the magestic lofty mountains in the background which offered a very soothing and meditative atmosphere stirring the soul to enjoy the bliss of nature, a gift from god to all of us. Baba Neeb Karori Ji Maharaj stayed here in a hut for about ten days and being deeply fascinated and charmed with the place expressed his keen desire for a Hanuman temple to be constructed at this very location .Baba’s devotees the than Lt. Governor of Himachal Pradesh late Raja Bajrang Bahadur Bhadari and Sh. Bhagwan Sahai shouldered the responsibility to fulfill their Guru’s desire and began with the construction of the temple in the year 1962 and finally it was consecrated on the 21st of June,1966, What began as a small temple, by god’s grace and blessings has acquired great dimensions and today the entire temple complex is sprawled over 18.8 bighas of land owned by Shri Sankat Mochan Hanuman Mandir.

Jakhoo Temple

Jakhoo Temple is an ancient temple in Shimla, dedicated to Hindu deity, Hanuman.
[1]It is situated on Jakhoo Hill, 2.5 km /1.3 miles east from the Ridge, Shimla at a height of 2,455 m (8,000 feet) above sea level.
[2] Shimla’s highest peak offers a panoramic view of the Shivalik Ranges and the town of Sanjauli. An ancient “Lord Hanuman” temple is there and every year a big festival is held on Dushera . You can go to the temple by foot (a steep climb) from Ridge (path behind the church) or can hire a pony/horse. Taxis are available too.

The legend

One legend goes that Lord Hanuman stopped there to rest while he was searching for the Sanjivni Booti to revive Lakshman in the Epic Ramayana. On arrival at the temple signs advise visitors to secure all personal belongings and beware of the monkeys, which are everywhere. This is appropriate as the temple is in honour of the Monkey Lord. Visitors must remove shoes (and leave them in the “shoe house”) before entering the temple.There are several eateries at the temple site. Local visitors ring the bell for good luck before making the descent back into Shimla

Tara Devi

Tara Devi Temple has an unique history. Tara Devi Temple was built approximately 250 years ago. Legend was that the goddess Tara Devi was brought to Himachal Pradesh from the eastern Indian state of West Bengal. According to that legend a King of the Sen Dynasty of Bengal visited Himachal Pradesh. The King was in the habit of carrying his personal family idol around the upper torso of his arm.
One day while hunting in the dark and dense forests of Juggar, Raja Bhupendra Sen fell asleep and had a dream; in the dream he saw his family deity Ma Tara and her consorts Dwarpal Bhairav and Lord Hanuman requesting him to unveil them before the common economically dis- empowered populace.

Inspired by his dream, Raja Bhupendra Sen donated 50 bighas of land and sponsored the construction of a temple in the land. The first Idol was made of wood which was installed in accordance with Vaishnav traditions. Later generations of the Sen Dynasty gradually improved the structure. Raja Balbir Sen commissioned the ‘Ashtadhatu’ deity which is still seen today.

State Museum

The Shimla State Museum houses a huge collection of magnificent paintings, sculptures, coins, handicrafts, photos, etc of not only the state of Himachal Pradesh but outside too. The state museum is a major attraction of the Mall area of Shimla built in the style of colonial edifice with sprawling lawns all around. This museum was inaugurated in 1974.The museum is open from ten in the morning to five in the evening. It is open on all days except Monday and the national holidays. The state museum of Shimla also comprises a library that is loaded with historical books and manuscripts.The Shimla State Museum was erected solely with the purpose of preserving the rich cultural heritage of the state and to spread the message of cultural legacy over generations.
The paintings depicts the life and culture of the hilly people. Besides there is a huge collection of Mughal and Rajasthani paintings. The museum holds the sculptural merit of the 8th century stone works of Masrur and Bajaura. Also a wide lay out of Himachali dolls are displayed here.The Shimla State Museum is visited by the researchers from both domestic as well as foreign lands.

Mall Road

Mall Road is the main street in Shimla, the capital city of Himachal Pradesh, India. Constructed during British colonial rule, the Mall road is located a level below the ridge. The offices of municipal corporation, fire service, and police headquarters are located here. Automobiles, except emergency vehicles are not allowed on this road. For this reason, the locals — and tourists — are often found strolling on this road in the evenings.Mall road has a number of showrooms, department stores, shops, restaurants and cafes. A Himachal emporium that offers handicraft products of Himachal Pradesh like locally designed woollen cloths, branded cloths, pottery items, and jewellery is also located here.[1] There are at least three books shops including one that sells old books.

Tattapani

Tattapani is a well known place in the vicinity of Shimla. This particular place is known for its hot water springs. Tattapani is located at a distance of 51 kilometers from Shimla. The place is at an elevation of 655 meters above sea level.Shimla’s Tattapani has become a spot of big tourist attraction. The Hindu temples as well as the Shiv Goofa (Shiva Caves) located at Saraur at a distance of four kilometers from there are also places of utmost interest. Fishing can be an exciting activity in the place.Tattapani is an ideal locale for enjoyment and recreation. The springs are found on the banks of river Sutlej covering an area of one square kilometer. People from all over the country visit the place to take a dip into the sulphurous water of the spring. A dip into the water of the spring provides relief to the people suffering from joint pains, fatigue or any type of skin disease and hence has got a great medicinal quality.Besides, Tattapani at Shimla has developed into a major Hindu pilgrimage center. The pilgrims regard the month of January the holy time to take a bath in the water of Tattapani. People also visit the place on 13th April on the occasion of agricultural festival. The spring water vanishes in the months of June and July but again becomes visible in the months of November and December. People gather in abundance every year on the auspicious days of Tara Ratri, Lohfi and 26th January. Resting at HPTDC tourist bungalow is the best choice available to the tourists.

Naldehra

Himachal Pradesh has always been one of the most popular tourist’s destinations in the country, offering a wide range of activities for the sports lover. Its beautiful and challenging hills have attracted trekkers from all over the world. Whether it is river rafting or parasailing, Himachal has always been a place to be in for the sport lover. And Himachal has also kept up with the pace of the changing times and adapted itself to new upcoming sports such as golf. Actually the story of Golf in Himachal started 100 years ago. In 1905, the Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon became so captivated with the beauty of Naldehra, a place 22 kilometers from him summer capital Shimla, that he would often come and camp here for days on end. It was probably for the memory oh his stay here, that he named his third daughter ‘Alexander Naldehra’. And it was on his favorite camping site that he established what today is one of the oldest and most scenic golf courses in the country. Initially a 9 Hole Course, the Naldehra golf course was expanded to 18 holes, and further expansion has been planned to make the course at par with the best in the country. Golf as a sport has rapidly become popular all over the country and the Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Shri V.S. Kokje feels that Himachal Pradesh with its wonderful terrain and climate has much to offer to the sport. He said, “Golf is essentially a holiday sport, and Himachal Pradesh is a very popular holiday destination. With its climate, its pollution free atmosphere, the altitude and the scenic beauty. So it’s a Wonderful opportunity to combine your holidays with your sports”. The Story of Golf in Himachal Pradesh started 100 years ago, but it’s a story that’s just beginning to unfold.

Narkanda

Skiing is a major reason for tourists to visit Narkanda. Skiing is organized in the month of December – March each year as this is the time when the slopes are fully covered with ice. There are different slopes here that are suited for beginners as well as experienced skiers. People are of the opinion that only athletes can do skiing. To break this thought the HPTDC has taken initiative to extend the sport to common man. They have started conducting many courses in skiing at Narkanda. They have qualified instructors trained by the Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports. They impart training to students under a designed 7 day program from 10th January to March, every year. The training Gears and equipment too are provided by them. They guide the students to proper exercising pattern so that they are able to do the sport appropriately and safely. Half a km from Narkanda bus stand is a place called Dhumri which is a famous ski slope and attracts large number of tourists in winters on its gentle slopes.

The Vice Regal Lodge (Also popularly known as Advanced Studies)

The Vice Regal Lodge : On the Observatory Hills is located the Viceregal Lodge. Also known as Rashtrapati Niwas, it was formerly the residence of the British Viceroy Lord Dufferin, was the venue for many important decisions, [Viceregal Lodge now called Indian Institute of Advance Studies] which changed the fate of the sub-continent. It is quite befittingly the only building in Shimla that occupies a hill by itself. This rambling Scottish baronial edifice was designed by Henry Irvine, architect to the Public Works Department of the colonial government in India. The south facing entrance portico sees the visitor into the reception hall. The hall is marked by a grand staircase which springs from the right and spirals up three full floors. Facing the main entrance is the grand fireplace. A gallery with well-appointed teak panelling is the central space of the building around which the other rooms are arranged. The state drawing room, ballroom, and the wood-panelled dining room – decorated with coats of arms of former Governor-Generals and Viceroys – lead to the gallery at the lower level. Verandas and terraces surround the entire building at different levels. Those at the lower level link the lodge to the magnificent grounds while those on other floors provide superb views of mountains. Way back in 1888 this Lodge had electric light – when nobody else in Shimla did – and, would you believe it, an indoor tennis court! The lodge had extensive facilities including huge kitchens; separate rooms for storing table linen, plates, china and glass; laundry; an enormous wine cellar; a room for empty cases; boilers for central heating and running hot and cold water in the bathrooms. Pretty much as in Delhi’s Viceregal Palace, the Viceroy hosted lavish parties and entertained the royal princes and nawabs in style. Several momentous decisions were taken in this building. This was the venue of the Simla Conference in 1945. In 1947 , the decision to partition India and carve out the states of Pakistan and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) , was also taken here.

After independence, the Lodge remained the summer retreat of the President of India. In the early 60s the President of India, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, a leading philosopher and writer, and the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru decided to make it a scholars’ den where the best minds would find an ideal retreat. That’s when the Indian Institute of Advanced Study moved into the Lodge in 1965.Obviously enough, some of the interiors had to be changed to accommodate the needs of the Institute. The state drawing room, ballroom, and dining room, for example, have been converted into a library; the Viceroy’s office is now the IIAS Director’s office; and the conference hall is now a seminar room for research scholars. Without the large contingent of Viceregal attendants and the resources, the ambience of this large estate is very different from what it used to be in the days of the Raj.The institute seems like the perfect setting for lively intellectual debates and discussions. The list of Fellows of the Institute includes names the Burmese Nobel peace prize winner Aung San Sun Kyi, who was a fellow here in 1986.